In California, habitual truancy, habitual refusal to obey parents or guardians, being beyond the control of parents or guardians, and violation of a curfew ordinance are status offense behaviors. The upper age for delinquency jurisdiction and status offense jurisdiction is 17. The lower age for delinquency jurisdiction or status offense jurisdiction is not specified.

Status offense cases are classified as wards of the court. The superior court has jurisdiction over status offenders and delinquents. A court may extend jurisdiction until a juvenile reaches 25.